Robert Altman is, officially, the director of the big screen version of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.
But reports from the set, according to MNSpeak, suggest otherwise. Apparently, Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-drunk Love, Magnolia) is shouldering a good deal of responsibility.
MNSpeak says, “the producers of the film probably insisted that Altman commit to a “backup” director because of his age … and some say [Anderson is] basically running daily production of the film. […] Between cuts, Robert belts directions over a mic while PT runs up to stage and speaks with the actors directly.”
Very cool.
Anderson and Altman have similar styles, and they’re both on my short list of favorite directors. My interest in the project just doubled.